Flexible surface cleaning device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mop with a bendable handle member. The mop comprises a mop head and a handle member comprising elongate top and bottom handle segments coupled by a knuckle joint comprising conventional single and double eye members. An elongate lock pin that axially and longitudinally extends through the double eye member is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin engages the single eye member so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/838,810, filed Jun. 24, 2013, entitled “Flexible Hinged Handle Dust Mop”, owned by the assignee of the present application and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to manually operated surface cleaning devices and more particularly, to a surface cleaning device that employs a handle that not only can be bent (or folded) any angle but also can be locked at the bent angle.

A conventional surface cleaning device, a mop, basically comprises a mop head that actually cleans the surfaces by contact, and a handle about which the mop is operated by a user. Although, the mop head is pivotally connected to handle, the handle itself is rigid as it generally comprises a unitary piece made of plastic, wood, lightweight metal, etc. This general unitary construction of the mop is hassle-free when dealing with free spaces. But, when it comes to cleaning tight or hard-to-reach spaces such as, underneath a couch, table, etc., the handle restricts the egress of the mop head into those tight spaces. As a result, the user has to bend or even crouch so as to further tilt and, at the same time, control the handle in order to clean the tight spaces. This clearly is a great inconvenience.

In the light of what is discussed above, there is long felt need in the art for a solution for the aforementioned problem.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a manually-operated, flexible cleaning device comprising a mop head pivotally connected to a flexible or bendable handle member. More particularly, the handle member is divided into top and bottom handle segment that are coupled together by means of a knuckle joint. Not only the cleaning device, by virtue of the knuckle joint allows for the angular movement of the top and bottom handle segments with respect to one another, but also enables the user to lock the handle member at an angular position of 180 degrees by engaging a lock pin within a lock hole wherein, the lock pin and lock hole are disposed within and on the knuckle joint itself. Having the handle member to bend (or fold) prevents the user from bending in order to reach the aforesaid tight spaces as the handle member bent to a desired angle (say, 90 degrees) can be easily used for reaching the tight spaces.

Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the surface cleaning device.

FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of pivot joint connecting the mop head and the handle member.

FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective of the mop head.

FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle member.

FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the knuckle joint connecting the top and bottom handle segments.

FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the pin handle recess.

FIG. 7, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle member.

FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the knuckle joint.

FIG. 9, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the double eye member.

FIG. 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of the double eye member.

FIG. 11, according to the embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the single eye member.

FIG. 12, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of another perspective view of the single eye member.

FIG. 13, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the lock member.

FIG. 14, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the lock member assembled into the spring-loaded bracket.

FIG. 15, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective sectional view of the handle member.

FIG. 16, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective side view of the handle member.

FIG. 17, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of the handle member bent at right angles.

FIG. 18, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the surface cleaning device with the lock sleeve.

FIG. 19, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the lock sleeve.

FIG. 20, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a top view of the lock sleeve.

FIG. 21, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is a closer view of the lock sleeve in unlock position.

FIG. 22, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of the handle member with the lock sleeve in unlock position.

FIG. 23, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is a closer view of the lock sleeve in lock position.

FIG. 24, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of the handle member with the lock sleeve in lock position.

FIGURES Reference Numerals

-   10—Surface Cleaning Device -   12—Mop Head -   14—Handle Member -   16—Pivot Joint -   18—Mop Material -   20—Mop Holder -   22—Top Handle Segment -   24—Bottom Handle Segment -   26—Knuckle Joint -   28—Pin Handle Recess -   30—Double Eye Member -   32—Single Eye Member -   34—Knuckle Pin -   36—Top Knuckle Rod -   38—Side Extension Member -   40—Side Hole -   42—Lock Recess -   44—Bottom Knuckle Rod -   46—Central Extension Member -   48—Central Hole -   50—Lock Hole -   52—Lock Member -   54—Lock Pin -   56—Pin Handle -   58—Spring-loaded Bracket -   60—Lock Sleeve -   62—Lock Sleeve Recess

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention comprises a manually-operated, flexible surface cleaning device 10 that is specifically designed to reach tight spaces such as, underneath a couch, table, etc., thereby negating the need for the user thereof to bend over (so as to reach the tight spaces). The device 10 comprises a mop head 12 and a handle member 14 wherein, the handle member 14 is connected to the mop head 12 centrally. More particularly, the mop head 12 is connected to the handle member 14 by means of a pivot joint 16 as seen in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the mop head 12 may be connected to the handle member 14 by means of a ball joint so as to allow for rotation and angular movement along multiple planes. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the mop head 12 further comprises a mop material 18, which comprises an absorbent material, such as, sponge, yarn, etc., and a mop holder 20 for holding the mop material 18. The mop holder 20 is preferably rectangular in shape so as to reach corners. The mop holder 20 is preferably made of a plastic material.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, the handle member 14 comprises elongate, tubular, top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24 wherein, the top extremity of the bottom handle segment 24 and the bottom extremity of the top handle 22 segment are connected together by a knuckle joint 26 (as seen in FIG. 5), which, as well known in the art, allows for the angular movement of the top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24 with respect to one another within a plane. More particularly, the top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24 are connected to the knuckle joint 26 by means of common place fasteners such as, screws, rivets, etc. The top handle segment 22 comprises an elongate pin handle recess 28 disposed on the exterior surface thereof wherein, the utility of the pin handle recess 28 will become apparent from the following body of text. In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 7, the top handle segment 22 is configured to be telescopically expandable and retractable in order to suit the individual height preferences of a user. The top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24, for lightness, may be made of plastic, or metals such as, aluminum, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 5, and 8 through 10, the knuckle joint 26 comprises a top double eye member 30, a bottom single eye member 32 and a knuckle pin 34 for coupling the single and double eye members 30 and 32. The double eye member 32, as well known in the art, comprises a top knuckle rod 36 and a pair of side extension members 38 integrally and longitudinally extending from the top knuckle rod 36. Each side extension member 38 comprises a circular side hole 40 wherein, the axis passing through the center of the side holes 40 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top knuckle rod 36. The double eye member 30 further comprises a centrally disposed, thorough, elongate, longitudinal lock recess 42 disposed therein.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, 11 and 12, the single eye member 32, as well known in the art, comprises a bottom knuckle rod 44 and a central extension member 46 integrally and longitudinally extending from the bottom knuckle rod 44. The central extension member 46 comprises a circular central hole 48 such that, the axis passing through the center of the central hole 48 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bottom knuckle rod 44. The central extension member 46 further comprises a lock hole 50 disposed thereon wherein, the axis passing through the centre of the lock hole 50 is perpendicular to the axis passing through the centre of the central hole 48 as see clearly in FIG. 12. The utility of the lock hole 50 will become apparent from the following body of text. In order to assemble the knuckle joint 26, the central extension member 46 is received between the pair of side extension members 38 (FIG. 9) such that, the side holes 40 (FIG. 9) are aligned with the central hole 48. The knuckle pin 34 is received with the aligned holes and thereafter secured therewithin by means of a knuckle collar (not shown) and suitable fasteners (not shown). Notably, as the knuckle joint 26 is assembled, the lock hole 50 is adapted to align with the lock recess 42 when the angular position between the single and double eye members 30 and 32 is 180 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, 13, and 14 through 16, the handle member further comprises an L-shaped lock member 52, which further is divided into an elongate lock pin 54 and an elongate pin handle 56 which are integral and at right angles with respect to one another. A rear portion of the lock pin 54 (towards the pin handle 56) is disposed within spring-loaded bracket 58, while a front portion of the lock pin 54 is snugly and slidably received within the lock recess 42. The pin handle 56 is received within the pin handle recess 28 as the lock pin 54 is received within the lock recess 42 whereby, the sliding movement of the lock pin 54 within the lock recess 42 is manually controlled by the to-and-fro movement pin handle 56 within the pin handle recess 28. Therefore, as the pin handle 56 is slid within the pin handle recess 28, the lock pin 54 is simultaneously slid within the lock recess 42. The lock pin 54 is movable between an unlock position, where the pin handle 56 is at a proximal extremity of the pin handle recess 28 and the lock pin 54 is entirely within the lock recess 42 disengaged from the lock hole 50, and a lock position, where a front portion of the lock pin 54, upon alignment with the lock hole 50, is received with a lock hole 50, while the rest of the lock pin 54 is within the lock recess 42.

Notably, the spring-loaded bracket 58 causes the lock member 52 to be biased towards the lock position. In the lock position (as depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16), as the lock pin 54 is received within the lock hole 50, the angle between the top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24 is locked or fixed unless the lock pin 54 is retracted by the pin handle 56 into the unlock position. In order to utilize the handle member 14, the pin handle is retracted into unlock position and the top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24 are bent at right angles with respect to each other about the knuckle joint 26 as seen in FIG. 17.

Referring to FIGS. 18 through 20, in one embodiment, the handle member 14 comprises a cylindrical lock sleeve 60 snugly and slidably disposed thereover. The lock sleeve 60, as can be appreciated from FIGS. 19 and 20, comprises an elongate rectangular lock sleeve recess 62 disposed thereon wherein, the utility of the lock sleeve recess 62 will become apparent from the following body of text.

Referring to FIGS. 21 through 24, the lock sleeve 60 is operably coupled to the pin handle 56 as the pin hand 56 extends through the lock sleeve recess 62 whereby, the pin handle 56 is operated (for retraction) by manually sliding the lock sleeve 60 backwards (i.e., away from the knuckle joint). More particularly, the pin handle 56 abuts a front extremity of the lock sleeve recess 62 as the lock sleeve 60 is slid backwards. On the other hand, at lock position, sliding the lock sleeve 60 forward till the pin handle 56 abuts a rear extremity of the lock sleeve recess 62 causes the lock sleeve 60 to slide over the knuckle joint in order to conceal the same as seen in FIG. 23.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a mop head; and (b) a handle member comprising: (i) an elongate top handle segment; (ii) an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom handle segment connected to the mop head; and (iii) a knuckle joint connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint comprising: (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom extremity of the top handle segment; and (2) a bottom single eye member connected to a top extremity of the bottom handle segment; (c) an elongate lock pin; and wherein, the lock pin is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye member at at least one lock point thereon so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein, the lock pin is biased towards the lock position.
 3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pin handle extending from the lock pin, the pin handle for retracting the lock pin to the unlock position.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle integrally extends from the lock pin.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle is at right angles with respect to the lock pin.
 6. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle extends from an extremity of the lock pin.
 7. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle is slidably disposed within an elongate pin handle recess, which is disposed on the exterior surface of the top handle segment, the pin handle recess defined between a proximal end and a distal end wherein, in the lock position, the pin handle is at the distal end of the pin handle recess, and wherein, in the unlock position, the pin handle is at the proximal end of the pin handle recess.
 8. The device of claim 3 further comprising a lock sleeve slidably disposed over the handle member, the lock sleeve disposed in operative connection with the pin handle whereby, the pin handle can be operated by manually sliding the lock sleeve.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein, the double eye member comprises a thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess, within which, the lock pin is slidably disposed.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein, each of the at least one lock point is radially aligned with respect to the eye of the single eye member.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein, the mop head is pivotally secured to the handle member.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein, the top handle segment is telescopically built so as to be extended or retracted to suit individual height preferences.
 13. The device of claim 1 wherein, each of the top and bottom handle segments is tubular.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein, the at least one lock point comprises one lock point.
 15. The device of claim 15 wherein, the lock point comprises a lock hole for slidably receiving the lock pin therewithin.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein, the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments at the lock position comprises 180 degrees.
 17. The device of claim 1 wherein, the knuckle pin prevents the angular movement beyond 180 degrees.
 18. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a mop head; and (b) a handle member comprising: (i) an elongate top handle segment; (ii) an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom handle segment connected to the mop head; and (iii) a knuckle joint connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint comprising: (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom extremity of the top handle segment, the double eye member comprising a thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess; and (2) a bottom single eye member connected to a top extremity of the bottom handle segment, the single eye member comprising at least one lock hole disposed thereon such that, the at least one lock hole is radially aligned with the eye thereof; (c) an elongate lock pin slidably disposed within the lock recess; and (d) an elongate pin handle extending from the lock pin; wherein, the lock pin is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye member at a lock point thereon so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member, the lock pin biased towards the lock position, the lock pin retractable by the pin handle into the unlock position. 